Tuve vs. Tenia
If I want to say, "My cellphone did not have any reception". would it be: "mi celular no tenia un recepcion" or "no tuve un recepcion"?
5 Answers
If no specific time period is mentioned and you are just talking about background info., I would use "tenía" (con acento). If you were referring to a specific duration of time I would use "tuve". Both are correct, it just depends on context.
If I want to say, "My cellphone did not have any reception". would it be: "mi celular no tenia un recepcion" or "no tuve un recepcion"?
Are you considering a complete time frame? (e.g. for 27 minutes) In that case, use preterite. Are the boundaries of the period without reception not relevant? Use imperfect.
What are you trying to say, and how do you want to present your data? The answer to this question is what determines the tense.
I would use the preterite, so "tuvo." Also, you would not need the "un - should be 'una'" in front of "recepción" because you wouldn't say "My phone did not have a reception."
tuve = to had. The action was done. It's finished, complete.
tenía = to had. The action is not completed yet. (something have happened). It's undefined and in Spanish it's called: 'Preterito imperfecto'
Example:
Yo tuve que trabajar ayer hasta tarde en la noche ((I had to work yestarday late into the night)
Yo tenía que trabajar ayer pero hablé con mi jefe para excusarme y no fui. (I had to work yesterday but I talked to my boss to apologize and I didn't go)
Yo tuve que ir al supermercado a comprar fresas. (I had to go to the supermarket to buy strawberries)
Yo tenía que ir al supermercado a comprar fresas pero llegaron unos primos a vistarme y no pude ir. (I had to go to the supermarket to buy strawberries but some cousins arrived to visit me, so I couldn't go.)
Regards.
It seems to me that objects would take the preterite instead of the imperfect, but I could be wrong.
